TRENTON — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would have to be more forthcoming and accountable by complying with the open public records laws in both states under a bill the Senate overwhelmingly approved today.

The bill was sparked by the controversial toll lane closures to the George Washington Bridge in September that have been linked to at least one member of the Christie administration and the Port Authority. The U.S. Attorney's Office and a special legislative committee are carrying out separate investigations into who was involved and whether laws were broken.

Under the bill, (S2183), the Port Authority would be required to abide by the Open Public Records Act of New Jersey or the Freedom of Information Law of New York. The authority adopted a law in 2008 that was supposed to make it easier for the public to obtain records, but there is no recourse if the authority denies the request, according to the bill's sponsors.

“Without access to records, the public cannot properly hold the Port Authority — or any other government agency — accountable for its actions. Unfortunately, the Port Authority has operated for too long as if it’s out of the reach of the public and the commuters who pay the bills,” said Sen. Bob Gordon (D-Bergen), a sponsor.

“The Port Authority controls and oversees major infrastructure and transportation facilities and has an annual budget that surpasses that of many states. Yet is has operated as if it is exempt from basic government standards," said Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), also a sponsor. "This is a necessary reform that will shine much-needed sunlight on the operations of the Port Authority. But this is also a first step in the process. We know that additional reforms are needed that will bring to the Port Authority the type of accountability that the public demands, and we will be working with our counterparts in New York to ensure that happens."

The New York legislature approved the same bill on June 18, the sponsors said.

Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris), also a sponsor, praised his colleagues for passing the bill but also urged them to support his transparency bill (S2013) for "the similarly troubled Delaware River Port Authority."

“We’ve done a great public service today by coming together to pass bi-state, bipartisan legislation to make the troubled PANYNJ more transparent and accountable to the people, but it would be disingenuous to avoid reforming the DRPA, which has been maligned with rampant, widely reported waste and abuse that has increased tolls and fares,” he said. "We must protect all hard-working commuters across the state and region."